Material-gathering machine



Oct. 4 T. E. MATERIAL GATHERING MACHINE Filed Dec. 26, B24 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 L lllllllllll Oct. 4, 1927.

T. E. PRAY Filed Dec.

I MATERIAL GATHERING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 2 Oct 9 7 "r. E. PRAY MATERIAL GATHERING MACHINE Filed Dec. 26. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 wztfnesis 1,11%

Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. PRAY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GOODMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MATERIAL-GATHERING MACHINE.

Application filed December 26, 1924. Serial No. 758,038.

This invention relates to improvements in material gathering machines for railways, and more particularly to machines adapted for use in gathering coal from the roadbed of coal transporting rail systems, as for instance, in and about mines, where the coal drops from the cars, and often accumulates in such quantities as to interfere with the operation of the cars, and furthermore, is wasted unless gathered systematically in such condition as to save it for fuel purposes. I

The principal object'of this invention is to produce a new and improved form of gathering machine of the class described.

The invention may be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, 1n

which:

Figure 1 is'a view in side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1; y

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing a detail of the conveyor mechanism, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the details of the drawings, which illustrate one form in which my invention may be embodied, the loading machine proper comprises a main frame A, mounted on a locomotive or similar supporting car B. The locomotive shown herein is of a well known mining type, having a frame 1, axles 2, 2, and supporting wheels 3, 3. A motor 4 is connected with one of the axles and the locomotive is controlled from a motormans cab 5 at one end thereof and having a controller 6 and a seat 7.

The loading machine frame extends longitudinally over the locomotive and is sup ported thereon by a swivel connection 10,

, which may be of any suitable construction,

as shown herein comprising a king pin 11 extending through thrust bearing plates 12, 13 and 14, interposed between the loading machine frame A and a support 15 on the locomotive B.. A series of balls 16 are arranged in registering annular grooves in thrust lates 12 and 13 to afford rotation of the frame in a horizontal plane, and the upper plates 13 and 14 engage each other with curvedv bearing surfaces to permit limited rocking of the frame relative to the locomotive. Clearance is provided between the upper plate 14 and the king pin 10 to allow for this rocking movement.

The frame extends forwardly beyond the front end of the locomotive, and is supported on the track rails by a pair of wheels 20,

20. The frame is provided with devices-at the front thereof for scraping and gathering above the wheels 20, 20, and spreading some" what wider than the frame so as to extend on opposlte sides. of the rails, as clearly shown in Figure 2. The scoop is inclined forwardly as shown, and is notched at 22, 22 to receive the rails, so that the front edge 23 thereof is below the level of said rails. A pair of runners 24, 24, are preferably arranged on each side of the notches 22, 22, these runners being turned upwardly at their front ends so as to assist in maintaining the scoop at the desired height from the ground, and to raise. the scoop over obstacles. The scoop is supported by means of a flexible cable 28 or the like, extending over sheaves 29 and 30 to a controlling lever 31 adjacent the motormans station.

The rear end 33 of the scoop extends over a sill 34 of compartment 35 at the front end of the frame. This compartment is provided with two longitudinally extending conveyors 40 and 41 of the endless chain type, which in the form shown comprise chains 40 and 41 respectively having cross bars 44 at suitable intervals for propelling the material along pans 40 and 41 of the respective conveyors. The conveyor 40 extends the full width of the front end of the frame and its chain 40 is trained at the front end shaft 46.

The second conveyor chain 41 is trained at its front end' over sprockets 47 47 on shaft 48 and extends upwardly over idler sprockets 4:9 and 50 and thence rearwardly to the end of the frame, where it passes over sprockets 51, 51', on shaft 52. As will be observed in Figure 2, the rear conveyor 41 is narrower than the front conveyor 40, and is arranged at one side of the frame,- A

part of the material from the front conveyor is therefore discharged directly upon the rear conveyor while the portion of the material discharged laterally beyond the rear con veyor, falls upon an inclined apron 55, (see Figure 4:) and is thus deflected toward and falls by gravity upon the rear conveyor. An upright partition 56 above the lower end of conveyor 41 keeps .GXCGTS material from rolling forwardly off said conveyor. The conveyors are driven by a motor 57 through armature pinion 58 and gear 59, shaft 60, sprocket 61 and chain 62. extending to sprocket 63 on shaft e6 supporting the rear end of the front conveyor 40. llhe rear conveyor is also connected-to the latter shaft by chain 64.

It will be observed in Figure 1 that the rear frame is cut away at one side and toward the rear thereof to afiord room for 1 the operator in the motormans cab 5. This is accomplished by constructing the rear conveyor 4L1 relatively narrower and placing it to one side of the frame as shown. The loadin frame is readily adapted to be detachab ly' connected to any locomotive of the mining type and when not in use may be detached and the locomotive may be used for haulage in the usual manner.

Although I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it will be un derstood that the construction and arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the particular construction illustrated excepting as it may be specifically limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: a

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame having supporting means for pivotally mounting the same upon a locomotive, said frame having a scoop on the front end thereof, a pair of conveying devices for elevating the material from said scoop extending rearwardly over and to one side of said locomotive for discharging at the rear end thereof, one of said conveying devices having greater width than the other and extending laterally beyond the marginal limits of 7 said locomotive, and a motor carried by said frame for operating said devices.

2. In an apparatus of' the class described, a frame having supporting means for pivotally mounting the same upon a locomotive, said frame having a scoop on the front end thereof, a pair of conveying devices for elevating the material from said scoop extending rearwardly over and to one side of said locomotive for discharging at the rear end thereof, one of said conveying devices having reater width than the other andeixtending aterally beyond the marginal limits of said locomotive, a motor carried by said frame for operating said devices, and guiding means at the forward end of said frame adapted to engage the rails.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 24th day of December, A. D. 1924:.

THOMAS E. PRAY. 

